We have all been there: having an incredible hair day and feeling like our most confident, unstoppable selves.
Feeling so self-assured that we want to extend that hairstyle for an extra day or two to hold onto that mood, or maybe because we know we have a busy few days ahead and don’t want the hassle of figuring out what to do with our hair in the morning.
Wavy hair comes in many styles; whether it is the effortless, cool-girl vibe or the desire to add a bit of low-maintenance texture to your typical hair type, the style works on a variety of natural textures. While wavy hair can be easy to attain, the better question is:
How do you refresh wavy hair? Well, there are a few different options depending on your desired style and your individual hair pattern. One lucky side effect of doing a wavy hair style is that typically the waves look better as they become more lived-in.
Below are some key tips and tricks for maintaining your wavy hairstyle in between washes.
Sleep On A Silk Or Satin Pillowcase
Switching out your regular cotton pillowcase for a silk one has a ton of benefits. Not only do silk pillowcases have benefits for your skin, such as preventing fine lines over time, but they also work wonders for your hair regardless of your natural hair texture.
In terms of maintaining wavy hairstyles, silk or satin pillowcases have a smoother surface than standard cotton pillowcases which prevents the formation of unnecessary tangles, or the appearance of excess frizz come morning.
Hair is able to glide along the pillowcase more easily and strands are more likely to be kept together, rather than on the rougher texture of a cotton pillowcase, which can cause friction to occur as you move around in sleep during the night.
Along with the smoother surface, silk and satin pillowcases also help retain hair’s moisture and products. Cotton pillowcases are more likely to absorb moisture, which can also add to creating excess frizz throughout the night or can cause hair to look dull in the morning.
To keep hair shiny and frizz-free, a silk pillowcase like this is the way to go! If you have longer hair, wrapping hair in a silk scarf or hair wrap works well, too.
Use A Curl Refreshing Spray The Next Day
Now that you’ve had a good night’s sleep on your silk pillowcase, you can assess how much or how little you need to reactivate the waves from the previous day.
One of the best types of products to use in this instance is a curl or wave refreshing spray like this one from Ouidad, as they will aid in reactivating the hair products used the day before, as well as provide additional hydration to help maintain the style and longevity.
A curl refreshing spray is a great product to add to your hair care collection because it can be used on wet or dry hair, before or after styling with additional products.
Refreshing sprays are able to reactivate the wave-producing products from your initial styling, allowing the product to mimic the way it performed the day before.
As curly or wavy hair tends to be drier, refreshing sprays also provide the much-needed hydration that can be lost over days of extended wear.
With adding the extra hydration, refreshing sprays can also prevent the appearance of excess frizz, as it tends to occur when trying to absorb any moisture it can from the air around it.
Without any stiffness or crunchiness that could come from trying to refresh waves with a hairspray, refreshing wave sprays allow next day waves to feel light, bouncy, and fresh.
Avoid Weighing Down With Too Much Product
Waves and curls look best when they are light and airy. The bounciness and natural movement allow for not only easy styling, but added volume.
Depending on your natural hair texture, be mindful of what products you are selecting when creating a wavy hairstyle. Avoid products that are too heavy or can cause waves to be pulled down, which will result in waves looking limp throughout the day and harder to maintain over a course of time.
Finding the right hair products for you will be dependent on your own unique hair needs: how thin or thick your hair is, if you have a natural wave or curl pattern present in your hair, as well as how much or how little your hair naturally produces oil.
Look for gels or creams that have lightweight benefits, and do not be afraid to mix and match products to find the right wavy hair combination for you.
Use Dry Shampoo On Your Roots
Dry shampoo is an easy style extender. Often times with wavy hair styles, we focus mostly on recapturing the wave pattern, and forget that the roots of our hair need attention too.
Especially if you are planning to wear your hair style for a few days, dry shampoo works to absorb any excess oil, or sebum, that can weigh hair down between washes and allow the base of your hair to feel refreshed.
If you are particularly active, or you find that your hair produces a lot of excess oil, dry shampoo can be the key to refreshing your hair after a workout or even during your midday lunch break.
Another benefit of using a dry shampoo is the volume that it adds to the base of your hair, regardless of hair style. While wavy and curly hair can give volume on their own, if you are between washes or want to maintain the style for several days, the initial style can lose volume over time.
Dry shampoo can work as a multi-tasker in your hair care routine. It works to absorb excess oil at the root, while simultaneously adding enough texture at the base to recreate volume.
As a tip, allowing dry shampoo to sit on the scalp for a moment before working it in to the hair works well in giving the product time to fully absorb excess sebum, as well as creating enough texture for added body.
If you decide a dry shampoo is missing from your hair care routine, working from root to tip to refresh the style works well. Start by addressing any sebum production at the root, and then use your wave refreshing spray through the middle to ends of your hair.
Dry shampoo such as this one from R+Co work double duty to refresh hair roots while implementing additional body.
Alternatively, if you do not worry about excess oil production in between washes, but do not want to lose any volume to your hair style, a texturizing spray like this one from Oribe provides lightweight volume to your hair without weighing down the style.
Try Out Co-Washing
If your hair cannot go that many days between washes, co-washing is an alternative that washes away excess oil and product buildup without using a shampoo. Depending on your hair type, you might need frequent washes, however you do not want to strip your hair of any moisture by washing it too much.
As wavy and curly hair can already need additional moisture to maintain hair health, a cleansing conditioner or a co-wash allows hair to feel refresh and hydrated, without going through the process of doing a full shampoo cleanse.
While co-washing is not for every hair type, it might take your hair and scalp a few times to adjust to your new cleansing routine.
Co-washing is not meant to be used in replacement of a deep cleansing shampoo, however, but can be an addition to your weekly hair washing routine that rinses away some of the oil production and product build-up in between using your lathering, thoroughly cleaning shampoo.
If you decide you want to try co-washing and it works for your hair type, it also allows you to have your waves styled freshly in between your shampoo days.
Wavy Hair Care Takeaways
Ultimately, finding the best way to maintain wavy hair styles will be unique to your own hair needs, however the above tips are a guideline that can be used for all hair textures and styles.
Incorporating any of the mentioned tips and tricks will work to extend the longevity not just of wavy hair styles, but can have added benefits to any other hairstyles you want to try out.
Whether the wavy hair style you want to achieve is a beachy summer wave or a subtle style that looks like it could be your own natural hair pattern, understanding how your hair responds to products will guide you in finding the right solution to not only achieving your desired wavy hair in the first place, but extending that style for as long as you want.
Allowing yourself to venture outside of your usual products or routine can open a wide door of different hair styles and textures that can assist you in feeling like your best and most confident self.
Related Articles
Is My Straight Hair Actually Wavy?
